1973 Ford Bronco - Let's call it the lucky horseshoe build

M

mhinch

Promoted Users
Ok guys, been lurking here for a long time watching and learning. Got the itch to get another build after my 1983 Jeep Scrambler and happened onto this sitting in a tobacco barn. I think it's a true 2 owner and it hadn't moved under its own power in 20 years. I have a working relationship with the seller and he is a true Bronco guy, heck a Ford Man if I do say. I did some research as to their bad spots/what's typical and said why not.
My intentions are to do the following;
-Front disc brake conversion
-Replace all soft and hard brake lines
-Replace manual master cylinder for now
-Replace both fuel tanks
-Replace all soft and hard fuel line
-Replace all fluids
-Replace all needed sheetmetal
Once all this is done I plan to drive it and see what I really want to do with it. I'd like to remove the body from the frame and dive down that rabbit hole this winter. My experience with paint and body guys is that they are S-L-O-W...With my Scrambler I went to the body guys shop, pulled it home, replaced the necessary sheetmetal and got it back to him to paint.
The metal work doesn't intimidate me at all. Hell, I weld for a living.
Here it is as I brought it home.
IMG_1538.jpg


And loaded up on the trailer with its proud new owner

IMG_1509.jpg


The look on my sons face sums it all up!

IMG_1519.jpg


Did a little welding repair where I blew through with the air chisel last night. Here's the machine and settings with 0.035 wire blowing 75/25 gas.

IMG_2422.jpg


IMG_2423.jpg


A couple of warm up peanuts

IMG_2421.jpg



Before welding, after hammering flush/flat/closed

IMG_2424.jpg


First pass

IMG_2425.jpg


Ground down

IMG_2426.jpg


Second filler pass

IMG_2427.jpg


It finished out really nice. I'm not quite at the point that I'm going to lay a straight edge on things but this one is small enough that I'm confident it's good. What I'm taking away from all of you guys is that it takes TIME and PATIENCE TO GET THINGS STRAIGHT. I need this in my world as everything is "blow and go" all day everyday. Think of it as my therapy or behavior modification.
More to come...
 
I love those old Broncos! In fact, have been awaiting the new release but I'm afraid it is not going to capture the essence of the old. Looking forward to watching this all come together. Watching!
 
A lot of value in the Bronco. The early seventies models seem to only go up in price.
I suggest you do a full restoration if you plan to resell it some day. Finding them in original condition is hard to do since most guys bought them for off road activities back then.
 
Hey!! That one actually looks pretty decent!

Rust prone areas:
footwell areas right at the crease where they start to run up into the firewall.
cowl area , windshield frame area
inner fenders , especially where there were several pieces of sheet material spot welded together, right in front of the doors.
door striker panel seams
frame, at the rear upper shock mounts. Take a close look, you'll wonder why they wouldn't put a drain hole on that mount. They basically made a plugged funnel.

First mod I made to my 69 was power steering....if you go the mod route.
Favorite mod so far was installing the EFI system from a 1997? 5.0 Explorer onto the 69 302. Just a HUGE improvement in driveability.

Yours is uncut (rear fenders) , so that puts it further up the "Rare" tree. May not want to mod it at all.

Have you been to classicbroncos.com yet? That's the big boy of all the Bronco forums.
The East Coast Bronco Registry is a very large club also, possibly the the one that got the Bronco Club thing started.
 
Thx so much so far guys. Been at it some yesterday and today getting the floor pans out and piddling. Though it's not sexy work it's still part of it.
Got to make a run to Dennis Carpenter for some sheetmetal this week. Here's what's been happening;
Windshield frame
IMG_2430.jpg


IMG_2431.jpg


IMG_2433.jpg

added some Ospho to the inside of the frame
IMG_2438.jpg


Had to make a new captured nut for the windshield frame
IMG_2436.jpg


IMG_2437.jpg

IMG_2438.jpg

IMG_2461.jpg

IMG_2463.jpg


more to come
 
So, many years ago I had a buddy of mine give me a 10 Gal blast pot. I never used it! Let a friend use it for his small powder coating shop operation and asked if I could get it back. Got it tonight. Tried out a small spot and all I can say is this is the way to do this. Took all of 8 seconds!
More to come.
IMG_2500.jpg


IMG_2499.jpg
 
Got a little bit more done the other day. It's not quite MP&C level work but I did it and that matters. All you guys here set the bar so high with your work it makes me stop and tighten up weld gaps, trim a little here, etc. So, thanks for making my project better.
This is just an anchor point for the front passenger seat that disappeared into crumbs. I do have a Wysong stomp shear, a finger break and a throttles shear to work with.
Started out with this
IMG_2517.jpg


It should look something like this

IMG_2518.jpg


So I did this

IMG_2519.jpg


And ended up with this

IMG_2522.jpg


Headed out to get some blast media from the local guy to prep this right prior to welding. More to come.
 
Here's what I did to the center cross brace under where my fabricated piece will go. Waiting on the floor pans to get here to fit and prep those for welding then I'll blast and epoxy these areas.

IMG_2550.jpg


61024425431__B7BAF611-6519-4C57-B45C-AAF7D540582C.jpg


and an overall

61024426021__FD49E157-B21E-4A42-B354-76C3DBC6BC84.jpg


I filled a few small holes with the welder by using a piece of flattened 1/2" copper pipe as a spoon to back up the weld. Worked out really nice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top